Nicotine Pouches Are Only Sold in Pharmacies? Canadian Convenience Store Operators Jointly Sue The Government

Nicotine pouches are only sold in pharmacies? Canadian convenience store operators jointly sue the government

Thousands of convenience store operators in Canada are suing the federal government to challenge the regulations that limit the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies, saying the policy is unfair and unconstitutional and could lead teenagers to turn to the illegal market.

According to Global News on October 5, thousands of convenience store operators in Canada are suing the federal government in court to overturn the regulations that limit the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies only.

Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. and Couche-Tard Inc., both subsidiaries of Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., claimed in their applications to the Federal Court that the restrictive regulations of Health Canada are unfair and unconstitutional.

On the Run, a convenience store brand under Parkland, also filed an application with the court, saying that these pharmacy-only restrictions will increase the demand for teenagers to obtain products from illegal channels because "they are already able to obtain these products through the smuggling market."

Parkland believes that illegal nicotine replacement therapy products are "more dangerous" than regulated products, and these regulations will "increase rather than reduce health risks."

Mac and Couche Tard made similar arguments, arguing that since the minister has not prohibited the sale of these products to minors, restricting them to pharmacies "at best maintains existing health risks" or could exacerbate the risks for those who turn to the black market.

Simon Scott, Parkland's vice president of corporate affairs, noted in a statement that the company's convenience stores have a "strong record" of safely selling age-restricted products, including alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets. He said removing these tobacco products from convenience stores would not prevent youth from accessing them, but would "hinder adult customers who are trying to reduce their tobacco use."

Health Canada declined to be interviewed because of the "complexity of the case."

In August, Health Canada issued new regulations that limited nicotine pouches to pharmacies. The announcement of this measure affected the sales of Imperial Tobacco Canada's (ITCAN) nicotine pouch brand ZONNIC in convenience stores.